Dear A.R.T. Members,

We have good news and bad news regarding the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and the state of federal funding for libraries, archives, and museums. 

The good news: On Monday, April 6, the Trump administration withdrew its appeal of a federal judge’s earlier ruling in Rhode Island v. Trump. The withdrawal means that the 21 Attorneys General who filed the lawsuit to protect IMLS have prevailed. The federal government cannot dismantle IMLS or take further steps to eliminate the agency. 

The bad news: Despise this legal victory, the administration is once again seeking to eliminate the agency by submitting an FY2027 budget proposal to Congress with no funding for IMLS or the National Endowment for the Humanities. 

What you can do:

1. Call or email your Senators to show support for funding IMLS and NEH

Please participate in the American Library Association's (ALA) campaign to Show Up For Our Libraries. ALA has set up forms that make it easy to call and email your representatives. Senators only have until April 17 to add their signatures to letters asking Senate budget leaders to support funding priorities (like library services), so we all need to act this week.

2. Sign your organization onto AAM's field-wide letter supporting federal funding for museums

We encourage all history organizations (not individuals) to sign on to a field-wide letter in support of federal funding for these agencies. The letter is being organized by our colleagues at the American Alliance of Museums (AAM). The deadline to sign on is April 30. 

Please note that this letter is NOT for individuals to sign. If you do not have the approval or authority to sign on your organization, please forward this letter to an appropriate representative at your organization.

This administration's ongoing assault on the cultural heritage field can only succeed if we become demoralized or complacent. We must be relentless in advocating for the vital role of libraries, archives, and museums in our communities. 

- A.R.T. Advocacy Committee

Please feel free to reach out to the Advocacy Committee with questions, comments, and suggestions at advocacy@nycarchivists.org.